A man has been charged with attempted murder following a brutal stabbing spree on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, reportedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the incident. The New York Police Department stated that one of the charges includes a hate crime related to one victim.
Raul Morales, 51, made a dramatic appearance during his perp walk on Friday afternoon, shouting “Justice for the Romero family” at gathered reporters. He referred to a woman by name and promised her story would not be forgotten.
According to the NYPD, Morales is facing several charges—including attempted murder, assault, and possession of a weapon—stemming from an attack on a 57-year-old Asian man.
In a separate assault on a 50-year-old Jewish man, Morales has been accused of attempted murder and assault as hate crimes, along with additional charges of assault and criminal weapon possession.
NYC stabbing incident culminates in suspect’s cryptic outburst towards media during perp walk
Police said the stabbings appeared to be separate attacks that happened near each other Thursday afternoon on the Upper West Side. Authorities said there was no known connection between Morales and either of the two victims.
According to police, Morales allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks. The NYPD is investigating whether bias played a role.
Both victims were taken to a hospital in stable condition. Police have said initial findings suggest mental health may have been a factor in the attacks, though Morales had no known mental health history with the NYPD.